Cheika in the stands as the free-falling Waratahs find yet another new way to lose

Former title-winning coach Michael Cheika was a conspicuous observer as the record losing streak of the NSW Waratahs continued with a gut-wrenching 24-22 Super Rugby AU defeat to the Brumbies in Sydney. The Waratahs' sharp-shooting five-eighth Will Harrison had an after-the-siren conversion chance to send Friday night's match into extra-time but pushed his sideline attempt wide.

The Waratahs' sixth successive defeat to start the season came less than a week after the NSW board sacked Rob Penney and installed his assistants Chris Whitaker and Jason Gilmore as interim coaches. In a chaotic conclusion to the game, it was only Harrison's third missed shot at goal all campaign - and Brumbies skipper Nic White readily conceded his side dodged a bullet.

"There might be a little bit of chat about our bad performance but you've got to look at the Waratahs performance and the type of pressure they put us under. It was certainly intense," White said.

Cheika is said to be advising the Waratahs on the structure of the embattled franchise's long-term coaching set-up. Whether or not he would be interested - or affordable to the Waratahs - to consider a return in any official capacity is another matter.

But his appearance at the SCG alongside Sydney Roosters NRL coach Trent Robinson certainly raised the tantalising prospect. Cheika is the only coach ever to lead NSW to a Super Rugby title, masterminding the Waratahs' 2014 breakthrough before leaving the following year to take charge of the Wallabies.

He guided Australia to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final to further raise his stocks before quitting after the Wallabies' disappointing quarter-final exit at the 2019 global showpiece in Japan. The one-time World Rugby coach of the year was on the Roosters' books last year before agreeing to take the helm of Lebanon for the 2021 rugby league World Cup.

It's doubtful the cash-strapped Waratahs would have the resources to entice Cheika back. But if there is one man who could put bums back on seats, restore the Waratahs' reputation and profile and lure some big-name players back to Sydney, it is the master motivator and mover and shaker Cheika.

The Tahs' inexperienced class of 2021 look in serious need of a shake-up from whoever is appointed as Penney's full-time successor. Try as they might after a less-than-ideal four-day preparation, Whitaker and Gilmore were unable to find the magic formula for a drought-breaking Waratahs win over the defending champion Brumbies.

They were at least courageous and competitive but ultimately paid the price for conceding two soft early tries to Tom Banks and returning Wallaby Tom Wright and then trailing 24-10 at half-time. They briefly levelled the match at 10-10 through a 21st-minute try to Harry Johnson-Holmes and a conversion and penalty to Harrison.

But weak defence once again let the Waratahs down and only Noah Lolesio's errant goal-kicking kept the home team within striking distance after Andy Muirhead and Folau Faingaa also crossed in the first half to give the Brumbies their 14-point lead at the interval.

The Waratahs made the Brumbies sweat, though, reducing the deficit to seven points with a Harrison converted try in the 65th minute, then almost forcing super time with a James Ramm five-pointer in the 83rd minute. But even after playing most of the second half with a man down after a yellow card was issued to Rory Scott and a red to Tom Cusack, the Brumbies still hung on.